(a)
- (1) Upon the completion of the hearing, the hearing officer may allow the parties to submit post-hearing briefs to be included as part of the record on appeal.
- (2) The decision on whether or not to allow the submission of post-hearing briefs is within the sole discretion of the hearing officer.
- (3) A hearing officer’s decision to not allow post-hearing briefs shall have no effect on the validity of any order or decision issued by the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.
- (b) If a hearing officer grants the member or the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System an opportunity to submit a post-hearing brief, the hearing officer shall provide the opposing party an opportunity to submit a response.
- (c) The hearing officer shall have discretion to set reasonable deadlines for the parties to submit post-hearing briefs and responses, provided that the parties shall be allowed a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of receipt of the hearing transcript before any initial post-hearing brief shall be due for filing.